This Copnor girl, 4, will have 10 inches of hair chopped off for children's cancer charity in memory of mum's best friend

Four-year-old Gracie Burrows will have 10 inches of her hair chopped off to help make wigs for children with cancer, and has raised more than £500 already.

Gracie, from Copnor, will have her hair cut at a ball in May which will see her sit on a throne and become a princess for the day.

She is raising funds for Matts Mission Children’s Charity, and took on this challenge after seeing her mum’s best friend Kelly Holden battle cancer.

Kelly passed away in November aged just 35, and was a huge part of Gracie’s life.

Proud mum Hayley Burrows said: ‘Gracie came up with the idea after seeing her auntie Kelly lose her hair after getting cancer and getting chemotherapy.

‘She saw her auntie Betty lose her hair when she was very young and remembered it oddly so when Kelly lost her hair she had a lot of questions.

‘It made Gracie very sad to see Kelly with a bald head and she then asked whether children got the “bad disease”.

‘She couldn’t believe it when she saw little boys and girls with no hair, it really upset her.’

Gracie has passed her £500 goal months before the haircut is due to take place, and the funds will help children with cancer enjoy family days out.

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Gracie said: ‘I want to cut my hair off for all of the little boys and girls who haven’t got no hair so I’m giving them mine to be kind. They lost their hair because of a bad disease.

‘It feels really good to have lots of money to give the boys and girls, I hope they go on holiday.’

Hayley said it means the world to her to know her daughter is taking on this challenge to honour auntie Kelly.

She added: ‘Myself and Gracie's dad, Nathan, couldn’t be more in awe of such a selfless act.

‘It makes me feel incredibly proud of her, she is the most thoughtful caring little girl I have ever met.

‘She has such a big heart and is so in tune to others’ feelings even at a young age of four.’

Visit goldengiving.com/fundraising/Graciesponsoredhairdonation to donate.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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